This country currently has a directory entry or basic profile only; a full handbook is planned.
01Overview
- Region
- South Asia
- Capital
- Islamabad
- Currency
- PKR
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- ISO code
- PK / PAK
Jurisdictions
- Pakistan — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules
Macro indicators such as GDP and population are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
02Market Entry
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Open with up to 100% foreign ownership outside restricted sectors
- Applies to
- Arms, explosives, currency printing and radioactive substances are restricted
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Private limited company
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Open with up to 100% foreign ownership outside restricted sectors
- Applies to
- Arms, explosives, currency printing and radioactive substances are restricted
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
29%
- Applies to
- Banks 39%; qualifying small companies 20%; high earners also pay super tax
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
Sales tax 18%
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
15%
- Applies to
- Reducible under the China–Pakistan treaty
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- State Taxation AdministrationFederal Board of Revenue (FBR)
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China)State Taxation Administration
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Exchange control administered by the State Bank of Pakistan
- Applies to
- Foreign investors may repatriate returns under the rules
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
State Bank of Pakistan
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Work visa from the Ministry of Interior, with police registration
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Board of Investment (BOI); Ministry of Interior
- Applies to
- A separate work permit is no longer needed; only a work visa
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
Employees' Old-Age Benefits (EOBI) and provincial social security contributions
- Applies to
- Applies to establishments above the headcount threshold
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution
07Trade & Customs
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
China–Pakistan FTA; FTAs with Malaysia and Sri Lanka, and others
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Pakistan Customs (under the Federal Board of Revenue)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- Federal Board of Revenue
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Board of Investment (BOI)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Special economic zones
- Applies to
- Under the 2012 SEZ Act; developers and zone enterprises get a 10-year income tax holiday
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- MOFCOM
09Digital & IP
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan)
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- WIPO
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Pakistan
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Asia-Pacific, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
View Asia-Pacific risk monitor
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
- 1Decide model and jurisdiction
- 2Confirm licences
- 3Prepare documents
- 4Incorporate
- 5Register for tax
- 6Open bank account
- 7Obtain operating licences
- 8Start operations
Generic steps without times or fees; rely on the facts and official sources on this page.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.